Will the Third Time Be the Charm for Painkiller Jane?

Jessica Chastain will be the third actress to play the role in an upcoming Painkiller Jane movie adaptation.

Deadline’s revealed that actress Jessica Chastain has just signed on to star in and produce an adaptation of the graphic novel series Painkiller Jane, from Jimmy Palmiotti and Joe Quesada.

The comic tells the story of Jane Vasko, a tough New York City street cop who’s recruited by the FBI in order to get inside a major NYC crime ring centered around drugs and human trafficking. After nearly dying in a double cross (apparently one origin story for the character, which has been altered in subsequent releases), she’s revived with superhuman regenerative powers (think Deadpool or Wolverine) that basically make her indestructible. So, of course, she decides to step outside the law and clean up the streets herself, first seeking revenge on everyone who (nearly) destroyed her life.

Palmiotti is one of the executive producers on the project, and a couple years ago, he’d said that a new movie was in the works, with a script he’d co-written. However, there’s no word yet on whether they’ll be keeping that script, or working from a new one. Also, no director has been revealed yet either.

Hasn’t There Been a Painkiller Jane Before?

Twice actually, though the adaptations are related. Back in 2005, Syfy (the Sci-Fi Channel) ordered a made-for-TV movie based off the graphic novel with Emmanuelle Vaugier in the title role. The movie was well enough received that Sci-Fi decided to move forward with a series. They recast the title role, however, going with Kristanna Loken instead, and ditched the film’s backstory in favor of a new one that Palmiotti said was “closer to the original concept we came up with in the comic.” The series ran for one season of 22 episodes before being canceled.

So, with Jessica Chastain attached, maybe this one will find a larger audience. Any fans out there who are stoked for the news of a Painkiller Jane movie adaptation?

Anders Clark is a sci-fi addict, nerd and lover of movies. He enjoys writing about all the latest and greatest in the world of science fiction and can't wait for jet-packs, self driving hover cars, space travel and instant food synthesizers.